F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate versus Project Origin - by Digital Nightfall
Jason Moyer on 5/2/2009 at 13:55
What did you think of the level design in the FEAR 1 demo? Because that wasn't great either.
Gaph on 5/2/2009 at 20:36
I realize it's a demo but a couple things lead me to make a leap of faith judgment on it. First of all there's a lot more attention to detail, the school section makes that very clear. They've got to keep a level of consistency so that kind of attention to detail isn't going to be languished in one area and barren in another, it's too visually disruptive. Since every area the player sees takes much more work to create (compared to FEAR 1), the areas will be shorter and more linear. That means the AI only uses cover and can't display flanking or stealthy behavior as in the original.
It's being developed for consoles so having smaller but more densely detailed levels fits right in. They've also taken the Half-Life 2/Halo mantra of playtesting and in my experience linearity is the name of the game to making efficient use of playtester's time and to get accurate data. They don't want you goofing off in some dead end, they want you to experience as much as you can as quickly as you can.
(
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3887/the_technology_of_fear_2_an_.php?page=3)
FEAR 2 will get universally positive praise from every major reviewer, Monolith will gain lots of new fans, rank right up there with 2K Games as a premiere console developer and a chunk of that sweet, sweet console money. They're never going back.
Some people won't like it (me) but that will mostly be disregarded as a spiteful backlash from the hardcore who are unwilling to let go of their PC bias to see the beautifully manufactured gaming brilliance.
Man, I can't wait to say "I told you so!"
june gloom on 5/2/2009 at 23:37
I may be the only person who honestly has a hard time giving a shit about "consolization" unless it actively interferes with comfortably playing the game. Invisible War is an older example, but the new HUD in F2PO, while a bit distracting, is not that much of a problem for me.
I have a hard time really judging the combat because there just wasn't enough of it- though firefights seem smaller and shorter compared to the first game, but maybe that's a demo issue.
I've learned a long time ago to never take demos seriously. I only play them just to get my hands on something playable- I reserve my final judgement of the game on the actual game.
EvaUnit02 on 5/2/2009 at 23:44
Quote Posted by dethtoll
I may be the only person who honestly has a hard time giving a shit about "consolization" unless it actively interferes with comfortably playing the game. Invisible War is an older example, but the new HUD in F2PO, while a bit distracting, is not that much of a problem for me.
I have a hard time really judging the combat because there just wasn't
enough of it- though firefights seem smaller and shorter compared to the first game, but maybe that's a demo issue.
I've learned a long time ago to never take demos seriously. I only play them just to get my hands on something playable- I reserve my final judgement of the game on the actual game.
Amen brother, amen.
Gaph on 6/2/2009 at 00:11
Quote Posted by dethtoll
I reserve my final judgement of the game on the actual game.
That's not fun or interesting to hear about.
Aja on 6/2/2009 at 07:52
Quote Posted by dethtoll
I may be the only person who honestly has a hard time giving a shit about "consolization" unless it actively interferes with comfortably playing the game. Invisible War is an older example, but the new HUD in F2PO, while a bit distracting, is not that much of a problem for me.
for once, you speak sensible! ;)
june gloom on 6/2/2009 at 09:00
Don't mistake me for a console tard, I'm just not a frothing NMA-style zealot who can't enjoy a game because of one small imperfection like some people around here. Like I've said before, takes a fuck of a lot to make me NOT play a game.
Jason Moyer on 6/2/2009 at 12:15
Does this mean you're playing your FPS's with an analog gamepad now, Dethtoll? :)
june gloom on 6/2/2009 at 18:24
I'd sooner shove a pineapple up my urethra.
Matthew on 6/2/2009 at 18:34
ooh, baby.
